Grain Cart Weighing with Accelerometer Terrain Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current grain cart weighing systems face challenges with measurement dynamics on uneven terrain, transaction logging during rapid acceleration and deceleration, operations tracking, pre-emptive weigh bridge failure detection, and display location diversity.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves using weight and three-axis accelerometer measurements to compensate for terrain effects, employing parallel low-pass filters for automatic transaction detection, utilizing beacons for equipment tracking, estimating combine fill levels through performance tracking, electrically testing weigh bars, and implementing a mirror-based display reversal system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional weight sensors are used on grain carts, then weight measurement is provided, but measurement accuracy deteriorates on uneven terrain due to acceleration forces and cart resonances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces accelerometers as intermediary sensors that measure terrain-induced accelerations and cart resonances. These measurements serve as mediator data that allows the system to distinguish between genuine weight changes and artifacts caused by terrain effects. The accelerometer data is processed to generate correction factors that compensate for the harmful terrain effects on weight measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring acceleration forces through accelerometers and using this information to adjust weight measurements in real-time. The processed acceleration data feeds back into the weight calculation algorithm, allowing dynamic compensation for terrain effects during cart operation, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy despite varying terrain conditions.
2Measurement precision
If multiple weight sensors are installed on the grain cart, then weight measurement coverage is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the accelerometer system multi-functional by using the same acceleration measurements for multiple purposes: compensating for terrain effects on weight sensors, detecting cart resonances, identifying loading/unloading events, and monitoring cart dynamics. This universal use of acceleration data reduces the need for separate specialized sensors for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive measurement coverage.
3Productivity
If automatic transaction detection is implemented, then operational efficiency is improved, but false detections may occur due to terrain-induced weight fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses accelerometer measurements as intermediary evidence to verify weight change events. Before registering a loading or unloading transaction, the system checks whether the weight change coincides with characteristic acceleration patterns associated with actual grain transfer operations. This intermediary verification step filters out false transactions caused by terrain effects while maintaining high detection efficiency.
4Device complexity
If weight sensors are combined through a passive junction box, then system simplicity is maintained, but signal processing capability and diagnostic ability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive electrical junction box with an active electronic processing system that includes accelerometers, signal conditioners, and digital processors. This substitution transforms the signal processing architecture from a purely electrical/passive system to one that incorporates active sensing and digital signal processing, enabling enhanced diagnostic capabilities, terrain effect compensation, and improved signal quality without significantly increasing physical complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the accuracy of weight measurements on uneven terrain, improves transaction logging and operations tracking, enables pre-emptive detection of weigh bridge failures, and addresses display location diversity, resulting in more efficient and accurate grain cart operations.
Implementation Method 1
weight and three-axis accelerometer measurements
Implementation Method 2
weight sensors... allow the tracking of yields
Data Source
AI summary
A system of detecting loading and unloading of mobile containers such as grain carts utilizes two low pass filters to determine whether the contents of the container are changing by subtracting one filter signal from the other, and using the sign of the difference. Weighing performance is improved by utilizing accelerometers to compensate for measurement dynamics and non-level orientation. Failure and degradation of weight sensors is detected by testing sensor half bridges. Loading and unloading weights can be tied to specific vehicles by utilizing RF beacons.